'Cosplay not just fancy dress' says man dressed as Chewbacca or maybe some kind of hairy elf

16-08-17

A MAN who spends his weekends dressing up as some sort of sci-fi chipmunk creature has defended the practice.

So-called ‘cosplay’ originated in Japan and has been adopted by people who get passionate about the difference between orcs and elves. Enthusiasts spend days getting subtle character traits and costumes just right, then meet up to criticise each other’s efforts.

Speaking from inside a costume that could be from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings or even Labyrinth, Stephen Malley said: “Just because I get all the clothes out of a big box with ‘Dressing Up’ written on it, doesn’t mean this isn’t a proper hobby.

“This wig cost more than my entire collection of ornate swords.”

He added: “Spending loads of time and money trying to look exactly like something else is an expression of originality.

“Cosplay is not just putting on a costume and playing, even though the word is a portmanteau of ‘costumes’ and ‘playing’.”